The Art of Noticing

11 May 2025

Ever realize that the more you pay attention, the more the world seems to open up? Not just a quick glance, but truly seeing—taking in the little details that transform the ordinary into something remarkable.

Take a simple kayak trip, for example. At first, it’s just a paddle across the water. Maybe you’re focused on your destination, keeping rhythm with your strokes. But slow down—let yourself really look—and suddenly, the world comes alive. A butterfly flutters onto a sunlit patch of reeds, adjusting its wings like a living mosaic. The bark of a mangrove twists into intricate patterns, shaped by years of wind and water. Birds weave above—some dashing through the sky with urgency, others drifting effortlessly, as if they have nowhere particular to be.

Seeing new things isn’t always about going somewhere unfamiliar. Sometimes, it’s about seeing the familiar in a new light. Ever returned to a place you thought you knew—a quiet inlet, a favorite hiking trail, even your own backyard—and found it whispering details you’d never noticed before? A delicate flower pressing through the cracks of a dock. The rhythmic call of a bird you’ve heard a hundred times but never truly listened to. Like layers of a hidden story, these details reveal themselves to those willing to pay attention.

John Burroughs once said, “To find new things, take the same path.” There’s truth in that. Seeing isn’t just about observing—it’s about noticing, appreciating, and discovering. And the beauty of it? You don’t need an exotic adventure to experience it. Just a curious eye and a moment of stillness.